Event Coverage
Ynon Kreiz, maker studios CEO, to keynote at MIPCOM 2014
MUMBAI: MIPCOM today announces that Ynon Kreiz, CEO of Maker Studios, a next-generation media and technology company and the world’s largest network of online video content for millennials, will deliver a keynote address as part of MIPCOM’s Media Mastermind Keynote Series. Kreiz will address delegates in Cannes on Monday, October 13.
Organised by Reed MIDEM, the 30th anniversary of MIPCOM will take place in Cannes, France, from Monday, October 13 – Thursday, October 16.
Kreiz joined Maker’s board as Chairman in May 2012 and was appointed Executive Chairman and CEO in May 2013. Under Kreiz’s leadership, the company was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in May 2014. During the keynote, Kreiz will discuss this year’s MIPCOM theme, The Global Quest for Original Content, he will address how Maker is packaging original shows featuring its biggest talent partners for cross-platform appeal.
Attracting more than 8.5 billion views monthly with over 550 million loyal subscribers globally, Maker is the leading network of online video content for the coveted millennial demographic. Maker offers a massive content slate that spans 23 curated vertical genres and is home to both top digital and traditional stars along with the most-watched short-form content in the online video industry including the most-subscribed YouTuber in the world PewDiePie and the award-winning “Epic Rap Battles of History,” the most-viewed series on YouTube. With 55,000 creators in its network, Maker has enormous scale and reach. Launched in May, proprietary web platform Maker.tv offers viewers premium, curated content from Maker’s hyper-syndicated network.
“With Ynon Kreiz at the helm, Maker is driving the short-form content revolution and becoming a major source of online video content for millennials,” said Laurine Garaude, TV Division Director, Reed MIDEM. “Ynon’s expertise in traditional entertainment coupled with online video is a perfect fit for this year’s MIPCOM theme, The Global Quest for Original Content.”
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
